Sound foundations

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Waldorf Quantum is back and bigger than ever

MK2 adds polyphonic aftertouch and an increased voice count

The Rhodes V8: an emulation of the MK8 electric piano

> Rhodes have released a plugin version of

Apple release updated Mac mini and MacBook Pro models

> Apple have unveiled M2 Pro and M2

UA’s Sphere DLX and LX can emulate classic mics

> Following the acquisition of Townsend Labs last

Teenage's latest update turns the OP-1 Field into a vocoder

> Given how much it costs, Teenage Engineering

Arturia are now letting anyone buy the MiniFreak V soft synth

> When Arturia announced that their new MiniFreak

Serato’s Studio DAW now has builtin stem separation

> Added to its DJ software in October

Generate new musical ideas in Ableton Live

Create analogue tape-style effects with Ableton Live’s Delay

Om Unit Threads

Civil Music, 2013

Track by track with Om Unit

Folding Shadows “This I knew was the ‘intro’

15 SYNTH PATCHES

(every producer should know)

Reese bass

Ray ‘Renegade’ Keith’s classic drum & bass track

Analogue-style kick

Making your own kick has many benefits, and is simpler than you’d think

Synth sweep FX

We’ve all heard white noise sweeps with their cutoff frequencies steadily climbing. Through the following steps, we’ll look at a more original take

Acid bassline

Fatboy Slim’s classic Everybody Needs A 303 was

Minimoog-style bass

A classic analogue bass patch makes a great jumping-off point for pretty much any monosynth

House organ

The house organ sound on Kylie’s Can’t Get

SYNTH STRINGS

> There’s something truly special about the sound

SYNTH CHOIR

> Even vintage analogue synths can create decent, albeit

Rave chord stab

Here’s how to recreate a rave-worthy chord stab using wavetable synthesis

Ambient pad

Jean Michel Jarre’s Oxygene was a groundbreaking work

5 PATCHES YOU NEED TO KNOW

To finish up, we show you how to create five more classic synth patches you need to have in your arsenal

Spectral effects

The number of these state-of-the-art processors has been increasing in recent years. Let’s find out what they’re all about

Resonance suppression with Mastering The Mix Reso

1Like Serum, Little AlterBoy and VintageVerb before it,

Splitting sounds by harmonics and transients in Bitwig Studio 4.4

1Let’s start with Transient Split. We can balance

Bitwig’s Spectral Suite

After some internet controversy, Bitwig’s new Spectral Suite

New sonic possibilities with Bitwig’s Loud Split processor

1Loud Split is a revelation. Thanks to spectral

Spectral compression with Sonible smart:comp 2

>Spectral compression is a term that’s used by

Delay times across the spectrum with MSpectralDelay

1 MSpectralDelay’s Easy Mode contains 20 powerful spectral

THREE OF THE BEST

Eventide SplitEQ $179 1Split your EQ processing into

Spectral smoothing and soothing

>Spectral soothing plugins, including Smooth Operator and Reso

Spectral smoothing with Baby Audio Smooth Operator

1Smooth Operator is one of the best known

Korg Drumlogue

Leo Maymind gives us a deeper insight into how to get the most out of this latest, percussive addition to the much loved range

EXPLORING DRUMLOGUE’S JAM-PACKED FEATURE SET

So, let’s dive in. First, the hardware itself

Programming a polymetric rhythm on the Drumlogue

Polymetric patterns (or polyrhythms, as they are often called) are possible on the Drumlogue. Here’s how to break out of that 4/4 rut

STEP PROBABILITY WORKFLOW, NOW ON THE DRUMLOGUE!

Just like machines by Elektron and Polyend, the

GOING DEEPER WITH THE DRUMLOGUE

GROOVE >Groove settings are unique and can really

Going further with motion sequencing to program a melodic bassline

While the Drumlogue isn’t quite a full melodic groovebox, programming basslines and melodies is possible. Here’s how to add a bit of melodic spice

UNDERSTANDING: Stereo width

To fully get a handle on width, and

Quick synth tips: Part 3

Get more out of your synths with our series of quick-and-dirty synthesis tips

FM | GEAR GUIDE

NEW ENTRY SOFTSYNTH BUNDLES Cherry Audio Synth Stack

NEIL COWLEY

Struggling to confront the past, Neil Cowley’s second LP, Battery Life, attempts to redefine his memories. Danny Turner chats to the acclaimed pianist

LISEL

Classical opera singer by day, electronic artist by night, Eliza Bagg is dissolving boundaries, as Matt Mullen discovers

SNOW GHOSTS

Forged in a Wiltshire castle, Snow Ghosts’ fifth album, The Fell, explores the region’s dark yet beautiful folklore. Danny Turner finds out more

Cherry Audio Synth Stack 3 $299

Cherry Audio’s product line has exploded recently. Si Truss asks if Synth Stack can now rival the likes of the V Collection…

Casper Bastl Softpop SPII £445

Is the Softpop’s semi-modular box of tricks the portable delight it’s been (hard) sold as? Rob Redman finds out

Apogee Boom £329

Boasting impressive components, the Boom doesn’t come cheap. Is it worth it? Simon Fellows tests it out

Roli Seaboard Rise 2 £1,099

Roli’s long-awaited sequel has finally arrived. Daryl Robertson finds out if it rises to the occasion

Elk Live £300

With online collaboration becoming increasingly a norm, Jon Musgrave tries out an all-in-one turnkey solution

Neat Worker Bee II £100

Is the Worker Bee II a real honey or have we been stung? Bee suit at the ready, Simon Fellows lifts the hive lid…

Universal Audio Volt 4 £225

UA’s Volt interfaces are designed to be simple and portable. Charlotte Sterland checks out the latest in the range

Luftrum – Lunaris 2 $179

>A few months ago we were impressed by

Audiotent – Solar $56

>Next in a long line of top-drawer releases

Sample Magic – Beat Alchemy From $7.99/month

>Strike gold with this dope batch of blissed-out

Ghost Syndicate – BLU: Liquid Drum & Bass £29.95

>Those ghoulish guys and gals are back with

Niche Audio – Loungin House From £14.95

>Slick selection of production kits for Maschine and

Splice Originals – Dimensions In Soul From $7.99/month

>The sweet sounds of the ’60s and ’70s

Lese Eigen

Eigen is a room-modelling reverb which lets you set

UNCHARTED TERRITORY

While there have been a large number of

Arturia Pigments €199

Now at version 4, Arturia’s ‘polychrome’ synth has pitched itself as both the most flexible and approachable ‘power’ plugin around. Si Truss asks if it still holds that crown…